Portsmouth Earthworks

Portsmouth Earthworks
Aerial illustration of the Portsmouth Earthworks Groups A, B, C, and D
LocationPortsmouth, Ohio, U.S.
RegionSouthern Ohio and Northeastern Kentucky
History
Founded100 BCE
Abandoned500 CE
CulturesAdena culture, Hopewell culture
Architecture
Architectural stylesEarthworks, enclosure, causeway, causewayed ring ditch
Architectural detailsNumber of monuments:
Horseshoe Mound
LocationScioto County, Ohio
Nearest cityPortsmouth, Ohio
Coordinates38°44′35.70″N 82°58′38.39″W / 38.7432500°N 82.9773306°W / 38.7432500; -82.9773306
Built499-0 BCE, 499-0 CE, 1000-500 CE
NRHP reference No.74001621
Added to NRHP1974
Portsmouth Earthworks, Group A
LocationGreenup County, Kentucky
Nearest citySouth Portsmouth
Coordinates38°43′17.76″N 83°1′22.98″W / 38.7216000°N 83.0230500°W / 38.7216000; -83.0230500
Built499-0 BCE, 499-0 CE, 1000-500 CE, 1499-1000 CE, 1749-1500 CE, 1750-1799 CE
NRHP reference No.80001534
Added to NRHPDecember 4, 1980

The Portsmouth Earthworks are a large prehistoric mound complex constructed by the Native American Adena and Ohio Hopewell cultures of eastern North America (100 BCE to 500 CE). The site was one of the largest earthwork ceremonial centers constructed by the Hopewell and is located at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, in present-day Ohio.

The majority of the mound complex site is now covered by the city of Portsmouth in Scioto County, Ohio. Several individual sections of the complex have been included on the National Register of Historic Places.